Patents Examined by Christopher E Everett
  • Patent number: 11957083
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide an interface unit interfacing with an irrigation controller, comprising: a housing; a controller configured to instruct an interruption of a watering schedule executed by the irrigation controller, the interruption based on one or both of sensed temperature and sensed rainfall amount, and based on one or both of user entered temperature and rainfall threshold parameters; a switching device coupled with the controller, and configured to cause the interruption in response to signaling from the controller; and a user interface comprising: a plurality of user input devices configured to provide signaling to the controller based upon user's engagement, and configured to allow the user to define the temperature and rainfall threshold parameters; and a user display comprising a display screen; wherein the controller is configured to cause the display screen to display a plurality of pictorial representations that in combination convey whether irrigation is being interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Redmond, Michael J. Tennyson, Randall A. Hern, Gerald E. Peterson, David G. Fern
  • Patent number: 11953877
    Abstract: Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated fashion. For example, information describing a shoe part may be determined, such as an identification, an orientation, a color, a surface topography, an alignment, a size, etc. Based on the information describing the shoe part, automated shoe-manufacturing apparatuses may be instructed to apply various shoe-manufacturing processes to the shoe part, such as a pickup and placement of the shoe part with a pickup tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: NILE, Inc.
    Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Patrick Conall Regan, Chih-Chi Chang, Chang-chu Liao, Ming-Feng Jean, Kuo-Hung Lee, Yen-Hsi Liu, Hung-Yu Wu
  • Patent number: 11953863
    Abstract: A training set that includes at least two data types corresponding to operations and control of a manufacturing process is obtained. A deep learning processor is trained to predict expected characteristics of output control signals that correspond with one or more corresponding input operating instructions. A first input operating instruction is received from a first signal splitter. A first output control signal is received from a second signal splitter. The deep learning processor correlates the first input operating instruction and the first output control signal. Based on the correlating, the deep learning processor determines that the first output control signal is not within a range of expected values based on the first input operating instruction. Responsive to the determining, an indication of an anomalous activity is provided as a result of detection of the anomalous activity in the manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Nanotronics Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Putman, John B. Putman, Jonathan Lee, Damas Limoge
  • Patent number: 11953862
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer storage media for providing an optimal control configuration for a material processing system are provided. In operation, a material processing engine accesses causal graph input data. Causal graph input data includes input data of a continuous flow process. Based on the causal graph and the input data, a causal graph that aligns with do-calculus manipulations—associated with determining identifiable causal relationships corresponding to input materials of the continuous flow process—is generated. The causal graph is parsed based on the do-calculus manipulations to determine valid conditioning sets associated with estimating a causal impact on an optimization target. Based on the valid conditioning sets, an optimal control configuration comprising optimal control variable values is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John Thomas Clark, Jr., Joakim Kalvenes, Jason Thomas Stewart, Rohin Wood
  • Patent number: 11953887
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory accessible by the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive an input adding a new industrial automation device to an industrial automation system including a plurality of industrial automation devices, generate a new name for the new industrial automation device based on a naming convention and a location of the new industrial automation device within the industrial automation system, determine, for each of one or more industrial automation devices of the plurality of industrial automation devices, a name change based on the addition of the new industrial automation device to the industrial automation system, wherein the name change comprises generating a replacement name and replacing a previous name with the replacement name, and update one or more respective configurations of the plurality of industrial automation devices based on the one or more name changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew R. Stump, Anthony Carrara, Christopher W. Como, Sharon Billi-Duran, Matthew R. Ericsson, Srdjan Josipovic, Eashwer Srinivasan, Michael D. Kalan
  • Patent number: 11947322
    Abstract: A control system includes a factory system to control an actuator, and a learning system. The learning system extracts records for machine learning associated with the actuator from the factory system via a network, and generates an estimation model for estimating a condition of the actuator by machine learning using the records. The factory system includes a plurality of nodes including a control device to control the actuator, and a readable data construction device connected to the learning system via the network. The readable data construction device acquires data items associated with the actuator from at least one of the nodes other than the readable data construction device, and constructs readable data which is readable from the learning system. The readable data includes the data items associated with the actuator, and the learning system extracts the records from the readable data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventors: Takafumi Sakiyama, Tadasuke Yuba, Nobuhiro Umeda, Naoyoshi Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 11947332
    Abstract: In a CAD data-based automatic operation device of a machining center equipped with a CNC device, the CNC device is provided in a storage unit with a learned model generated by learning beforehand machining conditions including a tool used and cutting conditions, a manufacturing process including a tool trajectory, and a machining program that caused the manufacturing process to be performed in correspondence with one another with respect to each feature subjected to various cutting operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KITAMURA MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Kitamura, Kosaku Kitamura, Takashi Asano, Seiji Amaike
  • Patent number: 11934172
    Abstract: A method includes generating a future state reflecting predicted values for a future time for a plurality of processing equipment for an industrial process run by an industrial process control and automation system (IPCS) configured to control the industrial process including at least one process controller coupled to input output (I/O) modules coupled to field devices including sensors and actuators that are coupled to processing equipment including the plurality of processing equipment. The method includes displaying in a human machine interface (HMI) associated with an operator computing system that is coupled to the process controller a dynamic time-based representation for each of the plurality of the processing equipment including beginning from a time beginning in the past including historical values, a value at a current time, and the predicted value at the future time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rohan James McAdam, Graeme John Laycock, Berty Jacques Alain Bhuruth
  • Patent number: 11934185
    Abstract: Systems and methods for safety-enabled control by: establishing a wireless communication channel with a plurality of remote control units via the wireless interface device; in response to establishing the wireless communication channels, operating a system-under-control in a supervised mode based on input received from at least one of the plurality of remote control units; in response to a mode switch command received from a first remote control unit of the plurality of remote control units, providing the other remote control units with a request for a mode switch confirmation; and, in response to confirming receipt of a safety-rated input from an autonomous control system and receipt of a mode switch confirmation from each of the other remote control units, operating the system-under-control in an autonomous mode based on input received from the autonomous control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Fort Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Bivans, Walid Dimachkie
  • Patent number: 11929616
    Abstract: Responding to grid events is provided. The system determines, based on an event, to modify an electrical load of a site. The system selects a parameter for the site to adjust to modify the electrical load. The system identifies a script constructed from previously processed interactions between a human-machine interface of the building management system to adjust the parameter for the site. The system establishes a communication session with a remote access agent executed by a computing device of the site to invoke the building management system of the site. The system generates a sequence of commands defined by the script to adjust the one or more parameters for the site. The system transmits the sequence of commands to cause the remote access agent to execute the sequence of commands on the human-machine interface of the building management system to modify the electrical load of the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Peak Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Benson Pei Sen Hu
  • Patent number: 11921495
    Abstract: A method (500), performed by an industrial automation system, for condition monitoring an industrial plant includes receiving (502) operational data of die industrial plant and obtaining an information model corresponding to at least one asset of the industrial plant from a cloud infrastructure. The method (500) further includes processing (504) die operational data using the information model to generate a recommendation for a control action. The industrial automation system (200) is configured to provide a means to update the information model by dynamically receiving (510) a new scheme for condition monitoring from a user and generating (512) an updated information model based on the received scheme using an engineering tool m the cloud infrastructure. The step of updating the information model is performed by storing the updated information model in a machine readable file format on the cloud infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Varghese Riju, Milind Bhangale, Vivek Nair, Anders Trosten
  • Patent number: 11914360
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to implement safety applications associated with process control systems are disclosed. An apparatus includes a configuration controller to: provide a plurality of available safety applications for implementation by a safety trip device to a user for selection, a first one of the safety applications associated with a first set of I/O signals, a second one of the safety applications associated with a second set of I/O signals, the first safety application implemented based on first pre-programmed instructions stored in memory of the safety trip device, the second safety application implemented based on second pre-programmed instructions stored in the memory; and, in response to a user selection of the first safety application, prompt the user to specify values for configuration settings associated with the first safety application. The apparatus also includes an I/O analyzer to implement the first safety application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMONT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Gary K. Law, Godfrey Sherriff, Sergio Diaz
  • Patent number: 11914350
    Abstract: For manufacturing process control, closed-loop control is provided (18) based on a constrained reinforcement learned network (32). The reinforcement is constrained (22) to account for the manufacturing application. The constraints may be for an amount of change, limits, or other factors reflecting capabilities of the controlled device and/or safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Max Fahrenkopf, Chengtao Wen, Juan L Aparicio Ojea
  • Patent number: 11906954
    Abstract: A method for providing automated assistance with repairing a motor-driven tool, includes the steps of: ascertaining at least one boundary operating condition of the tool, wherein the tool has previously not functioned properly under this boundary operating condition; determining a set of possible fault symptoms, possible causes of faults of the tool, possible repair action instructions, and/or possible replacement parts for the tool, on the basis of the ascertained boundary operating condition; and outputting the determined set of possible fault symptoms, possible causes of faults, possible repair action instructions, and/or possible replacement parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Robert Boeker, Martin Bobert
  • Patent number: 11900488
    Abstract: An energy control and storage system includes an energy monitor, a power controller, an energy storage device, and a computing unit. The energy monitor monitors power provided between an electric distribution system and a load. The power controller exchanges power with the energy monitor and receives power from a power generation system. The energy storage device stores energy received through the power controller. The computing unit receives a load shape from outside the energy control and storage system. The computing unit controls power exchanged between the energy control and storage system and the electric distribution system based on power indicated by the load shape that changes in response to varying conditions affecting the electric distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Sacramento Municipal Utility District
    Inventors: Nikolas Rechtiene, James Frasher, Obadiah Bartholomy
  • Patent number: 11899436
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to nesting sub-spaces for a machine tool by reading in evaluation criteria for an arrangement of nested sub-spaces, generating sequence data for an arrangement of nested sub-spaces, repeatedly performing a process until the result data exceeds a specified range. The process includes: generating evaluation data by evaluating the sequence data with an evaluation algorithm, generating result data based on a combinatorial logic of the evaluation data with the evaluation criteria, generating calculation data from the sequence data, the evaluation data, and the result data using the evaluation algorithm, generating further sequence data taking into account the calculation data with the evaluation algorithm, and repeating the process until the result data exceeds a specified range. The calculation data acts onto the generation of new sequence data to improve an arrangement of nested sub-spaces with respect to evaluation criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen SE + Co. KG
    Inventor: Stephan Fischer
  • Patent number: 11899417
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to implement predictive analytics for continuous processes are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a virtual batch unit controller to implement a sampling batch on a virtual batch unit. The sampling batch corresponds to a discrete period of time of a continuous control system process. The virtual batch unit includes input and output parameters corresponding to parameters associated with the continuous control system process. The example apparatus further includes a sampling batch analyzer to generate predictive analytic information indicative of a predicted quality of an output of the continuous control system process at an end of the discrete period of time based on an analysis of the sampling batch relative to an analytical model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Zuwei Jin
  • Patent number: 11892183
    Abstract: An information processing device has a control unit that acquires information relating to a fluctuation of power consumed by an electrical product operating around a user, and that estimates a product consumed by the user and a consumption quantity of the product based on the information relating to the fluctuation in the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toyokazu Nakashima, Takayuki Hatori, Shuichi Sawada, Daiki Kubo, Tomoki Ishikawa, Naoya Oka
  • Patent number: 11886209
    Abstract: A building management system (BMS) operates a plurality of HVAC devices to affect a physical state or condition and detects a fault condition at a second HVAC device affected by the physical state or condition and having causal relationships with the plurality of HVAC devices such that faulty operation of one or more of the plurality of HVAC devices causes a detectable effect at the second HVAC device. The BMS identifies, based on the fault condition, a predetermined set of system parameters corresponding to the fault condition and comprising a plurality of system parameters of the plurality of HVAC devices that are potential causes of the fault condition. The BMS retrieves operating data for the predetermined set of system parameters and transmits a signal to display a user interface comprising the operating data on a display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Homero L. Noboa, Kirk H. Drees, Vivek V. Gupta, Mark T. Fischbach
  • Patent number: 11886163
    Abstract: A method for operating a machine control system and a corresponding machine control system uses a portable hand-held terminal for functionally influencing at least one machine controller. The terminal includes at least one emergency stop actuation element for terminating potentially dangerous machine operations. The controller and/or the terminal is adapted for indicating a representation of the control system on the terminal display. The controller and/or the hand-held terminal is adapted for indicating the operational range(s) of the at least one emergency stop actuation element by the terminal display. The controller and/or the hand-held terminal are further adapted for simultaneously representing the operational range(s) of the at least one emergency stop actuation element by selective, fail-safe controlling of at least one lighting device at the hand-held terminal and/or at least one discrete lighting device in or at the at least one emergency stop actuation element at the hand-held terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: KEBA Industrial Automation Gmbh
    Inventor: Bernhard Lehner